WPL weekend preview

No live Sgorio match but there are a full set of fixtures in the WPL this weekend as The New Saints look to make it 16 wins on the bounce to break Bangor City’s record of consecutive wins in the top flight.

Friday

Aberystwyth v Bala Town | Friday – 19:45
Despite the electrical issues this game will go ahead at Park Avenue on Friday under some temporary new floodlights.

Aberystwyth haven’t played for two weeks since losing 4-0 away to Bala Town as one of the floodlights at Aber’s new 3G pitch has been damaged due to the recent rough weather at Ceredigion.

Matthew Bishop’s men sit 9th in the table having lost 9 out 15 WPL games this season (60%).

But Bala are flying recently and are on a run of eight games without defeat (won 5, drawn 3) including their recent 4-0 thrashing of Aberystwyth where Kieran Smith grabbed a brace.

After a slow start to the season, Bala have sneaked up the table and are now in the race for 2nd spot trailing gap Connah’s Quay by only three points.

Cefn Druids v Newtown | Friday – 19:45
Newtown have climbed out of the WPL relegation zone for the first time since 24 September after an impressive 2-1 win at home to 2nd placed gap Connah’s Quay last Saturday.

Reaching the Top Six isn’t an impossibility for the Robins as they start the weekend only four points behind Llandudno (6th).

Cefn Druids have only won two WPL games this season, both games against Rhyl, with Huw Griffiths confessing the club have a fight on their hands to stay in the WPL.

Druids have more draws than any other WPL team this season (7/15), with the team now desperately needing wins if they are to retain their place in next season’s Welsh Premier League.

But with a midfielder playing as goalkeeper and their striker not turning up to games (as happened vs Carmarthen in their last match), it will be a greater challenge for Huw Griffiths to keep Cefn Druids from facing the drop at the end of the season.

Rhyl v gap Connah’s Quay | Friday – 19:45
Following an impressive 3-0 win at the Airfield last weekend, Rhyl are now facing a difficult week starting with the Nomads on Friday night before the Lilywhites will go head-to-head with champions TNS on Tuesday night for the first time since their 10-0 record defeat at Park Hall back in August.

Rhyl will have thoroughly enjoyed their three points against Airbus having endured six defeats on the trot in the WPL before last Saturday’s result.

The Nomads will be keen to get back to winning ways after back-to-back defeats over the past few days losing 2-1 at Newtown over the weekend before a 1-0 defeat to TNS in the League Cup semi final on Tuesday night.

This will be Connah’s Quay’s fourth consecutive away game in the league as they hope to stay three points clear of Bala Town and Bangor City in the race for second spot and Europa qualification.

The New Saints v Airbus UK | Friday – 19:45
The New Saints are on the brink of creating yet more history as they are set to break the WPL record for consecutive wins if they manage to beat bottom side Airbus on Friday to make it 16 wins on the bounce in the league this season.

The champions have already equalled Bangor City’s run of 15 consecutive wins, and the Oswestry outfit have also won all five of their cup games this season to make it a whooping 20 wins on the trot in all competitions in 2016/17.

Airbus have slid to the bottom of the table after no wins in their last seven games and no clean sheet in their 16 games since their opening game of the season.

Andy Thomas’ Wingmakers have lost their last four games and have failed to score in their last three games and it looks like it will be a rough winter for Airbus who face six gruelling fixtures over the Christmas period against the top four sides before the split (TNS, Bala, Bangor, Nomads, Nomads, Bangor)

Saturday

Bangor City v Carmarthen | Saturday – 14:30
There was some breaking news at Bangor this week as manager Andy Legg was released of his duties after only three months at the helm for the Citizens.

Bangor City have enjoyed their best start to a season for several years yet the decision was made by the board to part company with Andy Legg following the news that Stephen Vaughan Jnr had joined the club as director of football.

Only The New Saints (24pts) have a better home record than Bangor City this season (18pts).

The Old Gold remain in 7th place after their 2-4 defeat at home to TNS last weekend.

Only one point separate Mark Aizlewood’s men and the dizzy heights of the top six and Carmarthen will look at their upcoming fixtures and will fancy their chances of making the cut in January.

Sunday

Cardiff Met v Llandudno | Sunday – 15:00
After thrashing Bangor City 4-0 At Cyncoed last Saturday, Cardiff Met have now made it six wins on the bounce at home, and kept their fifth consecutive clean sheet at Cyncoed (over eight hours without conceding at home).

Christian Edwards’ students start the weekend six points above 7th placed Carmarthen and will be dead set on securing a top half finish and a place in the play-offs.

Llandudno are still struggling to find their feet as they suffer from second season syndrome in the WPL having won only four of their opening 16 fixtures (25%).

Llandudno have the worst attacking record in the league (11 goals in 16 games) and with Cardiff Met’s defence looking super solid recently it could be a very long Sunday for Alan Morgan and his men.